OLYMPICS; Chinese Boycott Threat Is Denied

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September 18, 1993, Page 001030 The New York Times Archives

A Chinese Olympic official was quoted yesterday as having said last month that China might consider a boycott of the 1996 Games in Atlanta if Beijing is denied the 2000 Games because of human rights concerns. Within hours after his remarks were released, they were met with firm assurances from other Chinese Olympic officials that there would be no such boycott.

The conflicting statements stirred a new controversy about the Chinese bid six days before the International Olympic Committee will meet in Monte Carlo to select the host city from among five applicants. Besides Beijing, they include Berlin; Istanbul, Turkey; Sydney, Australia, and Manchester, England.

Zhang Baifa, the Deputy Mayor of Beijing and the head of the committee seeking the 2000 Games, touched off the controversy when he told Australian television that China might boycott the 1996 Games as revenge for Congressional opposition to Beijing's bid for the 2000 Games.

A transcript of Zhang's remarks, made through interpreters during an interview in Beijing on Aug. 1 for broadcast today by Australia's Special Broadcasting Service Television, was released yesterday. 'Their Congress Is Stupid'

"The American people are very good to us," Zhang said in the interview. "It's their Congress which is stupid. If Congress can pass a resolution objecting to our bid for the 2000 Olympics, we could, frankly, boycott their Atlanta Games in 1996. If our bid fails, we could write to Congress to protest about their interference and justifying our revenge."

Zhang was referring to a resolution passed by the House of Representatives in July urging the I.O.C. to reject Beijing's bid for the 2000 Games because of continued human rights abuses in China. Sixty Senators have since supported the House position. As soon as Zhang's remarks were reported yesterday in Australia, other Chinese Olympic officials, including He Zhenliang, the head of the Chinese Olympic Committee and an I.O.C. vice president, scrambled to distance themselves from Zhang's stance, denying that it represented official policy.

In a news conference in Monte Carlo, where a delegation of nearly 200 Chinese officials arrived yesterday to campaign for Beijing's selection before next Thursday's vote, He said: "Regardless of the vote of Sept. 23, China will continue to do everything to contribute to the Olympic movement. There was never a boycott threat. The question of a boycott of the Atlanta Games does not exist."

A version of this article appears in print on September 18, 1993, on Page 1001030 of the National edition with the headline: OLYMPICS; Chinese Boycott Threat Is Denied. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe